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| Grand Prix(1966); Discuss the film and/or DVD here | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 22 2006, 11:07 AM (232 Views) | |
| packmule | Jul 22 2006, 11:07 AM Post #1 |
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There are many, many films "out there" that chronicle race cars and racing in general. A more recent one that comes to mind, though I do not consider it very good, is 2001's Driven, starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds. Another one that comes to mind is 1990's Days Of Thunder, starring Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, and Nicole Kidman, which I liked better. Neither of these can, IMO, hold a candle to what I believe is the greatest race car/racing movie ever made: Grand Prix, directed by John Frankenheimer, and released in 1966. The film's story: the personal, and professional lives of four of the world's top Formula One race car drivers are chronicled: Scott Stoddard, an Englishman, Pete Aron, an American, Nino Barlini, a Sicilian, and a legendary French driver named Jean-Pierre Sartis. The quest for each driver: the championship, acquired by amassing the most points from race victories. ------Observations: this film works on all levels and is absolutely a marvelous piece of filmmaking. Director John Frankenheimer uses cameras actually mounted to the cars to capture the tension, and very real danger, of racing an open wheel car that can attain speeds that often eclipse 170 MPH. There is also very good use of "split-screen" shots used in this film. The acting is stellar: Brian Bedford plays "Stoddard", James Garner plays "Aron", Antonio Sabato plays "Barlini", and Yves Montand plays "Sartis". Other actors in this movie include Eva Marie Saint as a photo-journalist and Sartis' girlfriend, as well as Jessica Walter, who is Stoddard's girlfriend and a model in the film. Real life Formula One drivers also participated in this movie, including Phil Hill. The score is brisk and catchy, and exactly what you would expect for an action-oriented film sch as this one. Also starring in this movie is legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, as Nomura, a race car owner who eventually employs Pete Aron to help him in his drive to defeat the traditional powerhouse race car producers like Ferrari and BRM. The film appears on Turner Classic Movies periodically, as well as Speed. The film is presented in 2.35:1 letterbox. I have not purchased the DVD yet but I will be, very soon. For anyone who has not seen this movie I highly recommend it. thumbs up Discuss this movie and/or DVD here. All replies welcome. |
 Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 22 2006, 01:13 PM Post #2 |
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I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a fan of racing, it just isn't my bag, but this film is great fun! I think the only reason I ever even gave this film a chance was my Mom told me that my Dad took her to see this film when I was just a baby and there were two older women sitting behind Mom and Dad in the theatre and the one woman asked the other the name of the film and the other replied....'Grand Pricks'! :lol: That just cracked me up, so the first opportunity to ever see this film, I did and while the acting is outstanding and the film as a whole is excellent as already mentioned, it was one older woman's pronunciation of the film that cracked my Mom up enough to relay it to me several years later and thus my need to check the film out. Goofy and not a good reason, I know, but on the upside, I enjoy it and would also like to add this film to my collection. |
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| packmule | Jul 22 2006, 08:38 PM Post #3 |
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As good as the effects and production values for this film are, it is still, I think, the acting that "drives"  this movie. Grand Prix is interesting for me because it delves into each driver's personality somewhat, as well as the reasons for their participation in such a dangerous profession. The personality contrasts between the drivers are pronounced: the American driver, Pete Aron(James Garner), is pragmatic, direct, and can come off as brusque, though I think he's a good fellow at heart. Sartis(Yves Montand), the Frenchman, is very savvy, somewhat world-weary, very suave and dashing, beneath his polished exterior an always smouldering drive to win. Stoddard(Brian Bedford), the Brit, is a quiet, introspective guy, similar to Aron, and Barlini(Antonio Sabato) is a young guy, likable and very affable, who is spontaneous and unpredictable, always with a female on his arm, and the life of the party(actually all the post race parties, in many of which he is a wild drunkard). thumbs up
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 22 2006, 10:56 PM Post #4 |
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I agree completely, the fact that we get to know each driver more than simply sitting and watching races.....the effects and action sequences are definitely fun, but as you mentioned, Lee, it's getting to know what makes the drivers 'tick' is what puts the film over the top and helps it be a much better film than many would probably think it could be. |
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| packmule | Jul 24 2006, 06:50 PM Post #5 |
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The capabilities of the Formula One race cars are amazing. Though not a serious racing fan I do watch an IRL race on occasion. Like in the film Grand Prix(1966), each race is uniquely different-some race courses emphasize maneuvering and gear shifts through frequent turns, these races usually averaging slower speeds. Other courses emphasize flat out speed. In the film the leader of the Ferrari race team remarked to Pete Aron(James Garner) that there were perhaps only a handful of men in the world capable of effectively racing these Formula One race cars. Even today it takes a gifted driver to handle these cars.--The final race in the movie Grand Prix was a course with long straightaways and high-banking turns, where the average speeds on the straight parts of the track exceeded 170 MPH. Pictured: a typical Formula One race car circa 1966 |
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| KaijuFanatic | Aug 23 2006, 09:07 AM Post #6 |
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I failed to mention, last week while in NY state, I found this DVD at FYE, the ONLY place I've even seen the DVD for sale and the asking price was almost $24, with what I had in my hands, already, I had to pass, but if I get up that way, again, I may grab it. Have you picked this title up, Lee and if so, where did you find it and was it at a better price? |
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| packmule | Aug 23 2006, 08:30 PM Post #7 |
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I saw it on display at Tower Records. I don't remember the listed price for it but I do recall that it was over $20. It's a little pricey perhaps, but it is a great movie, considered by many to be the greatest race car/racing film ever made. I have not picked it up yet. I have a copy of it on DVD-R(copied from a VHS recording of a TCM broadcast of this movie). I will get it eventually, probably sometime early next year. |
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| KaijuFanatic | Aug 24 2006, 12:13 PM Post #8 |
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Thanks, Lee, looks like that may have been the going price for this disc. If I don't pick the title up myself, I may add it to my Christmas wish list. I usually add a ton of titles to that list, that way, if someone finds one or two titles and want to get me a DVD or two, they have a wide variety of titles to choose from. |
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| packmule | Aug 24 2006, 07:43 PM Post #9 |
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Image: another nice photo of the Formula One race car, circa 1966, and it's driver. Note the car's low profile, the driver little more than 12" off the ground. The car's low profile, then, and now, is a design that enhances the speed of the vehicle, and minimizes "drag". The interior of the car is very small, which compounds on the demands of the driver during a race. Not only does the driver have to manipulate the gear shift expertly, he also has to maintain control of the steering wheel during the straightaways and turns. One thing is certain: driving a Formula One race car is one hell of a way to earn a living.  ... thumbs up
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